Transmission



April 6, 1965 P. T. JoHNsoN 3,176,546

TRANSMISSION Filed July 9, 1962 'Ww-- fi,

ATTORNEY ilnited States Patent() 3,176,546 TRANSMiSSiN Paul T. Johnson, Mentor, Ohio, assignor to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Filed .l'niy 9, 1962, Ser. No. 208,236 12 Claims. (Cl. 74-665) This invention relates to transmissions and more particularly to the combination of a forward and reverse drive transmission and a final drive transmission arranged to provide a straight forward and reverse drive and steering drives.

The drive train employs a transmission providing forward and reverse, preferably in a plurality of ratios, and a steering type differential. In the final drive of the dierential type having a pair of driven shafts, the driving pinion drives a pair of ring gears, each of which may be connected to one driven shaft. The driven shafts may also be connected to each other to provide solid shaft or straight drive in either direction. Pivot turn may be provided by connecting each ring gear to its associated driven shaft to provide either right or left turns depending on whether the transmission is in forward or reverse. Either driven shaft maybe selectively disengaged or floated and the vehicle brakes employed selectively to provide clutch brake steering.

An object of the invention is to provide a drive train including a transmission having forward or reverse drive and a final drive assembly of the differential type which may be connected to drive both driven shafts together in either a forward or a reverse direction, or to drive one driven shaft forwardly and the other driven shaft reversely, or to drive one driven shaft in either direction and disengage the drive to the other driven shaft and apply a brake to the other driven shaft.

An object of the invention is to provide a drive train including a transmission having forward or reverse drive and a final drive assembly of the differential type which may be connected to drive both driven shafts together in either a forward or a reverse direction, or to drive one driven shaft forwardly and the other driven shaft reversely, or to drive one driven shaft in either direction and iioat the other driven shaft.

An object of the invention is to provide a drive train including a transmission having forward or reverse drive and a final drive assembly of the differential type which may be connected to drive both driven shafts together in either a forward or a reverse direction, or to drive one driven shaft forwardly and the other driven shaft reversely.

Another object of the invention is to provide a final drive assembly having an input pinion driving a pair of gears, each of which may be selectively connected to one of a pair of driven shafts and a clutch for connecting the driven shafts.

Another object of the invention is to provide a final drive assembly having an input pinion driving a pair of ring gears which may be selectively connected to drive the driven shafts together or oppositely in either a forward or reverse direction.

These and other objects of the invention may be more fully apparent from the following description and drawings illustrating the preferredembodiments of the invention.

FIGURE l is a diagrammatic illustration of the transmission and one form of the final drive assembly.

FGURE 2 is a diagrammatic illustration of the transmission and a modified final drive assembly.

FiGURE 3 is a diagrammatic illustration of the transsembly.

fr 35,176,546 ce Patented Apr. 6, 1365 The invention is illustrated in several transmission and final drive combinations driven by a right hand engine which rotates clockwise as viewed from the front of the vehicle having traction devices such as wheels or tracks. Hereinafter, reference is made to the right and left components of the final drive as being on the right and left side of a conventional vehicle with the engine in the front, the transmission inthe center and the final drive at the rear. in FIGURE l the forward and reverse drive transmission 9, which has a control to provide a plurality of ratios in both forward and reverse drive, is connected to drive the input pinion 10 clockwise as viewed from the front of the vehicle, in forward as indicated by the arrow F, which meshes with a right'ring gear 11 and a left ring gear 12 rotatably mounted respectively on the enlargement 14 of the right driven shaft 32 and the enlargement 16 of the left driven shaft 33 of the vehicle. The right ring gear 11 may be selectively connected to the right driven shaft 32 by the clutch 17 which has alternate plates splined to the ring gear 11 and intermediate plates splined to the shaft enlargement 14. The clutch 17 is actuated by uid motor 18 mounted on driven shaft 14 and supplied with duid via line 19 to actuate the motor 18 and engage the clutch 17 to connect the right ring gear with the right shaft 32. The left ring gear 12 is selectively connected to the left driven shaft 33 by clutch 21 having alternate plates splined to the ring gear 12 and the shaft enlargement 16. The clutch 21 is actuated by an annular fluid motor 22 on the supply of fluid to the motor via the line 23 to connect left ring gear 12 to left shaft 33. The driven shaft enlargements 14 and 16 have inwardly extending and overlapping sleeve shaft portions 26 and 27 which may be clutched together by the clutch 28 which has alternate plates splined to the sleeve shaft portions 26-2'72 The clutch 28 is actuated by the annular liuid motor 29 mounted on the inner sleeve 26 when fluid under pressure is supplied via line 31. The right or left shaft enlargements 14 and 16 transmit the drive respectively to the right and left driven shafts 32 and 33. Brakes 36 and 37 actuated by control 38 and 39 may be mounted respectively on the right and left driven shaft.

The modification shown in FIGURE 2 has an input pinion 51 driven by a transmission 9 in a clockwise direction (arrow F) in forward drive. The pinion 51 meshes with a right ring gear 52 and a left ring gear 53. The right ring gear 52 is fixed on the right driven shaft 54. The left ring gear S3 is rotatably mounted on the left driven shaft S6. The left driven shaft S6 has a hub portion 57 located within the ring gear 53 having an axial sleeve extension 58 extending toward the ring gear 52. The right driven shaft 54 has a sleeve eX- tension 59 overlapped by the sleeve extension 58. A clutch 61 having alternate plates splined to the sleeve 5S and S9 is actuated by an annular iiuid motor 62 when fluid is supplied via line 63. The ring gear 53 has a sleeve shaft extension 66 located externally of the sleeve unit extension 58. A clutch 67, having alternate plates splined to the sleeves 53 and 66, is actuated by an annular fluid motor 69 mounted on the hub 57 and operable on the supply of fluid via line 71 to engage the clutch 67.

A third modification of the final drive assembly, shown in FGURE 3, is drivenby the transmission 9 and has an input pinion 1111 driving a right ring gear 1tl2 and a left ring gear 1133. The right ring gear 102 is rotatably mounted by bearings 1M on the hub 1Go of the right driven shaft 11W. The left ring gear 163 is rotatably mounted by bearings 108 on theV hub 109 of the left driven shaft 111. The ring gear 102 has an internal cylindrical splined surface 112 and the hub 106 has a facing external cylindrical splined surface 113 between. The clutch 114 is located between these cylindrical splined air/seas surfacesy with alterna-te plates splined to the internal splined surface 112 and intermediate plates splined to the external splined surface 113. The annular fluid motor 11e, when supplied with lluid via line 117, engages the 4 l a vehicle, as illustrated in FIGURE '1, forward solid shaft drive is provided when the clutch 21 is engaged to connect the ring gear 12 to the left driven shaft 33, and the" clutch 2?; is engaged to connect the left driven shaft to clutch 114 to connect right ring gear 152 to 4the 5 drive the right driven shaft 32. With the transmission` hub 1% and right driven shaft 167. The left ring outputoperating in forward drive, the iinal drive unit gear 1113 has an internal cylindrical splined surface 121 may provide solid shaft reverse drive by dislerigaging facing external splined cylindrical surface 122 on the clutch 21 and engaging clutch 17 so that a rignt ring hub 109 between which the clutch 123 is located with gear 11 drives the right driven shaft 32 which in turn alternate plates splined to the internal surface 121 and 10 through clutch 28 drives the left driven shaft ne. When intermedi-ate plates splined to the external surface 12?.. the transmission Ais operating in reverse drive itwill be The annular fluid motor 124, when supplied with uid seen that both forward and reverse solid shaft drive may via line 126, will engage the clutch 123 to connect the also be provided with rever-sel transmission output to left ringgear 163 to the hub 109 and left driven shaft the final drive assembly. rI'he ring gear 11 is connected 111. In the central space between the hubs 1116 and 15 by clutch 17 to driven shaft 32 and shaft 32 by clutch 109 and within the ring gears 102 and 163, the hub 11%9 23 to the left driven shaft 33 for forward drive. For has an internally splined sleeve extension 131 and the reverse drive, clutch 21 is engaged so that ring gear 12 hub 166 has an externally splined sleeve extension 132. drives .driven shaft 33 and clutch 28 is engaged so that The clutch 133 is located between the sleeve extension left dflvflrl Shaft 33 d'1VQS flght driven Shaft 32- and has alternate plates splined to the sleeve 131' and 20 In Ordr t0 Prof/1de PIVO turn, the ClllCh 23 1S dlS intermediate plate splined to sleeve 132. On rthe supply engaged and remains disengaged. .Both the clutches `21 of fluid via line 134 to the fluid motor 136 the clutch and 17 are engaged so that each driven shaft rotates with 133 is engaged to clutch the right and left output shaft its associated ring gear. With the transmission in for-V 107 and 111 together for rotation in unison, The right ward drive, the left driven shaft 33 will be driven fore shaft hub 106 has attached thereto :a brake hub 138 hav- 25 Wardly and the Tight drlVeH Shaft 32 lCVerSelY a Ilghf ing an externally splined drum 139., The housing 14o has pivot turn. A 'shift in the transmission to reverse drive an internally splined drum potrion 141. The brake 142 Will dlVe the right dIVSIl Shaft 32 fQl'WafdY and the has plates alternately splined to the drum 141 and 139, left driven shaft 33 reversely for'left pivot steer. Also, When duid is supplied via the brake4 supply line 146 toY in Order that One of the tracks may be floated or freethe annular iluid motor 147, the brake plates are engaged 3G Wheeled fOl' brake Sefmg, 'the Clutch 23 1S; dlselgaged against a fixed abutment 148 to apply the bnake A left to permit relative rotation between the driven` shafts.l brake hub isi is attached to the left shaft hub 109 and When the transmission is Operatmam forward drive', has a cylindrical splined drum 152 having a Xed abutthe left Clutch 21 S engaged t0 dflVe the left d1`1 VeI1 ment153. The housing has a splined drum portion 154. Shaft 33 OI fight Steef- FOI Sharper Steering the flght, The left brake 156 consists of plates alternatelysplined 35 brake 35 may be engaged `to retard the movement of to the housing drum 154 and the brake drum 152 and the right driven shaft and track. Similarly, left steer is engaged when fluid is supplied via line 157 to the anmly be Obtained by Placing the 'fr aISmlSSlfll 111. Tel/@ISC nuiar iiuid motor iss to engage the plates against the drlve and engaging Clutch 17 t0 drlve the rlght rms gear abutment 153. 11 and the right driven shaft 32 forwardly while the left operan-0n 4C driven shaft 33 is floating. For sharper left turning the brake 37 may he applied.

These final drive units, when used with a transmission The modification shown in FIGURE 3 Works in a providing forward and reverse drive, will provide solid similar manner to the unit shown in FGURE 1 but has shaft forward and reverse drive in either direction relaoutput brakes built into the differential or final drive tive to the transmission output drive or input to the final 45 housing as explained above and may be operated in drive, will provide pivot turns in either direction dependaccordance with the table set forth below in which in ing on the direction of the ltransmission drive. The means engaged and out means disengaged with regard transmission shown in FIGS.- l and 3 also will float or to the clutches. On in the brake columns means the freewheel either driven shaft and track with power in brake may be engaged.

Left Track Right Track Trans- Center Right Left Right Left Oper. Movement Movement mission Clutch Clutch Clutch Brake Brake Neutral-.. Forward Forward Forward.- 011.... Off. Reverse Reverse Reverse.-. 011...- OIT, Reverse Reverse Forward.- 011--.. Ot. Forward Forward Reverse.-. 011---. Off. Pivot Reverse. Forward.- 011.--. Off. Pivot Forward Reverse.-- 011..-. Oi. Float Forward.- 011-.-. 011. Float-Brake.--" Forward.. Ofi On. Forward Reverse--. Onu" Off, i Forward. Reverse 011.--- Off. j Float Reverse.-- Cth... O11. Float-Brake. Reverse." OIL..- On. Reverse Forward., Ot.. Off. Reverse Forward.- On Oi. Brake Bralo On.. On.

solid shaft forward and reverse drive pivot turn in either 70 direction and permit floating or freewheeling one track while powering the other in either a forward or reverse direction. With an engine and transmission unit in forward ratio rotating clockwise as viewed from the front The nal drive mechanism shown in FIGURE 2 when usedV in connection with a transmission 9 lproviding forward and reverse drive will provide solid shaft drive in both forward and reverse and pivot turn in either direction. For solid shaft drive the clutch 61 is engaged and the clutch 67 is disengaged. Forward or reverse drive is provided 'as the transmission drives in forward or reverse. For pivot steer the clutch pack 61 is re (arrow F) and located forward of the final drive unit in 75 leased and the clutch 67 is engaged so that each-of the ring gears 52 and 53 is connected respectively to the right and left output shafts 54 and 56. Then when the transmission is driving in a forward direction, the right driven shaft will be driven forwardly and the left driven shaft 56 will be driven reversely to provide left pivot steer. When the triausmission is driving in reverse, the left ring gear and driven shaft 56 will be driven forwardly while the right ring gear 52 and driven shaft 54 will be driven in reverse to provide right pivot steer.

The direction of rotation of the input pinion of the .final drive or differential units, if reversed, merely rei verses the direction of the drive and steering.

It will be appreciated that modications of the invention may be made within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. In a drive mechanism, a transmission having an output member and providing forward and reverse direction drive of said output member, a pair of driven shafts, a final drive selectively connecting said output member and said driven shafts, operative in one condition to connect the output member to drive one driven shaft in one direction and the other driven shaft in the other direction and means to control said transmission to provide drive in one drive direction to drive said final drive to provide a steering drive in one steering direction and to provide drive in the other drive direction to drive said final drive to provide a steering drive in the other steer direction.

2. In a drive mechanism, a transmission having an output member and providing forward and reverse direction drive of said output member, a pair of driven shafts, a final drive means selectively connecting said output member and said driven shafts, operative in one condition to connect the output member to drive one driven shaft in one direction and the other driven shaft in the other direction under a first condition of operation and to drive both driven shafts in the same direction under a second condition of operation and means to control said transmission -to provide drive in one drive direction yto drive said final drive to provide a steering drive in one steer direction and to provide drive in the other drive direction to drive said final `drive to provide a steering drive in the other steer direction under said first condition of operation and to control said transmission to provide straight forward or reverse drive under said second condition of operation.

3. In a drive mechanism, a transmission having an output `member and providing forward and reverse direction drive of said output member, a pair of driven shafts, a final drive means selectively connecting said output member and said driven shafts, operative in one condition to connect the output member to drive one driven shaft in one direction and the other driven shaft in the other direction under a rst condition of operation and to drive both driven shafts in the same direction under a second condition of operation and to selectively drive one or the other driven shafts under a third condition of operation, and means to control said transmission and final drive to provide drive in one drive direction to drive said final drive to provide a steering drive in one steer direction and to provide drive in the other drive direction to drive said final drive to provide a steering drive in the other steer direction under said first condition of operation and to control said transmission to provide straight forward or reverse drive under said second condition of opera-tion and to control said transmission to provide steering drive in either forward or reverse.

4. In a drive mechanism, a final ldrive assembly having an input member, a pair of driven members driven in opposite directions by `said input member, a pair of driven shafts, clutch means connecting one driven member to one driven shaft, second clutch means connecting the other driven member to the other driven shaft, and third clutch 6 means connecting one driven shaft to thefother driven shaft.

5. In a drive mechanism, a transmission having an output member and providing forward drive and reverse drive of the output member, a final drive assembly having an input member driven by said transmission output member, a pair of driven members driven in opposite directions by said input member, a pair of driven shafts, clutch means connecting one driven member to one driven shaft, second clutch means connecting the other driven member to the other driven shaft, third clutch means connecting one driven shaft to the other driven shaft, and brake means connected to retard each of said driven shafts.

6. In a drive mechanism, a transmission having an output member and providing forward drive and reverse drive of the output member, a final drive assembly having an input member driven 'by said transmission output member, a pair of driven membens driven in opposite direction by said input memiber, a pair of driven shafts, clutch means connecting one driven member to one driven shaft, second clutch means connecting the other driven member to the other driven shaft, and third `clutch means connecting one driven shaft to the other driven shaft.

7. In a drive mechanism, a transmission having an output member and providing forward Idrive and reverse drive of the output member, a final drive assembly having an input member driven by said transmission output member, a pair of driven members driven in opposite directions by said input member, a pair of driven shafts, first clutch means connecting one driven member to one driven shaft, second clutch means connecting the other driven member to the other driven shaft, third clutch means connecting one `driven shaft to the other driven shaft, means to apply said first and third clutches for straight forward drive, and means to apply said second and third clutches for -straight reverse drive, means to apply said first and second clutch and place said transmission in forward or reverse drive to provide right or left pivot steer.

8. In a drive mechanism, a transmission having an output member and providing forward drive and reverse drive of the output member, a final drive assembly having an input member driven -by said transmission output member, a pair of driven members driven in opposite directions by said input member, a pair of driven shafts, first clutch means connecting one driven member to one driven shaft, second clutch means connecting the other driven member to the other driven shaft, third clutch means counecting one driven shaft to the other driven shaft, brake means connected to retard each of said driven shafts, means to apply said first and third clutches for straight forward drive, means to apply said second and third clutches for straight reverse drive, means to apply said first and second clutch and place said transmission in forward or reverse drive to provide right or left pivot steer, means to apply said first clutch and the brake to retard the other driven shaft and to apply said second clutch and the brake to retard `the one driven shaft to provide steering.

9. In a drive mechanism, a final drive assembly having an input pinion, a pair of ring gears meshing with said prnron on opposite sides of said pinion, a pair of driven shafts, clutch means connecting one ring gear to one driven shaft, second clutch means .connecting the other ring gear -to the other driven shaft, and third clutch means connecting one driven shaft to the other driven shaft. 0 l0. In a drive mechanism, a final drive assembly havingan input pinion, a pair of ring gears meshing with said pinion on opposite sides of said pinion, a pair of driven shafts, clutch means connecting one ring gear to one d rrven shaft, second clutch means .connecting the other ring gear to the other driven shaft, third clutch means connecting one driven shaft to the other driven shaft, and blrlace means connected to retard each of said driven s a ts.

11. In a drive mechanism, a transmission having an output member and providing forward drive and reverse drive of said output member, a final drive assembly having an input pinion `driven by said transmission output member, a pair of ring gears meshing With said pinion on opposite sides of said pinion, a pair of driven shafts, clutch means conneeting,y one ring gear to one driven shaft, second kclutch means connecting the other ring gear to the other driven shaft, third clutch means connecting one' opposite sides of said pinion, a pair of driven shafts, clutch means connecting one ring'gear to one driven shaft, second clutch means connecting the other rin-g gear to the other driven shaft, third clutch means connecting one driven shaftV to the other driven shaft, and `brake means connected to retard each of said driven shafts.

References Cited by the Examiner UNTED STATES PATENTS 2,521,652 9/50 Van Voorhis 74-710.5 599,05 8 6/52 Johansen et al. 3,056,310 10/62V Ruff 74-378 DON A. WAITE, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A DRIVE MECHANISM, A TRANSMISSION HAVING AN OUTPUT MEMBER AND PROVIDING FORWARD AND REVERSE DIRECTION DRIVE OF SAID OUTPUT MEMBER, A PAIR OF DRIVEN SHAFTS, A FINAL DRIVE SELECTIVELY CONNECTING SAID OUTPUT MEMBER AND SAID DRIVEN SHAFTS, OPERATIVE IN ONE CONDITION TO CONNECT THE OUTPUT MEMBER TO DRIVE ONE DRIVEN SHAFT IN ONE DIRECTION AND THE OTHER DRIVEN SHAFT IN THE OTHER DIRECTION AND MEANS TO CONTROL SAID TRANSMISSION TO PROVIDE DRIVE IN ONE DRIVE DIRECTION TO DRIVE SAID FINAL DRIVE TO PROVIDE A STEERING DRIVE IN ONE STEERING DIRECTION AND TO PROVIDE DRIVE IN THE OTHER DRIVE DIRECTION TO DRIVE SAID FINAL DEVICE TO PROVIDE A STEERING DRIVE IN THE OTHER STEER DIRECTION. 